Allen to face quality field in bid for NI joy

MARK Selby will look to take another big step towards a whopping £1m bonus at the 19.com Northern Ireland Open which starts on Monday week at the Waterfront Hall.

Selby is the only player in with a chance of the huge prize — which goes to the winner of all four Home Nations events — having triumphed in the English Open earlier this month.

Victory in Belfast would mean he would need to win those in Glasgow and Cardiff to complete the clean sweep. But he faces tough competition at the atmospheric Waterfront Hall.

World champion Judd Trump will be defending the £400,000 NI Open title — and Alex Higgins Trophy — while home favourite Mark Allen will have plenty of support. Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins, Neil Robertson and Shaun Murphy will fancy their chances as well.

“To win a trophy is great in terms of getting the confidence back,” said Selby of his English Open success in Crawley.

“Over the last 12 months, mentally it has been tough. I have been second guessing myself, questioning myself and wondering if I would win another tournament again. It was that bad.

“I was playing well in practice then in matches I have been crumbling and not showing anything, it was frustrating.”

Antrim’s Allen, the World No.7 who is currently contesting the World Open in China, will be looking to improve his record in the tournament, as he has not got past the quarter-finals since the event was first staged in 2016.

Local fans will also be able to cheer on tour pro Jordan Brown, as well as amateurs Patrick Wallace and Declan Lavery who have been handed the two spots available for national wildcards.

World No.1 Trump beat O’Sullivan 9-7 in last year’s dramatic final.

The draw and format will be announced next week.

A spokesman for World Snooker said: “We’re delighted to see such a strong field for what is going to be a tremendous week of snooker in Belfast.

“So many of our sport’s biggest namesareinthedraw,andwhat an opportunity for fans to come and see their heroes in action.

“With up to eight tables in play at the same time during the early rounds, fans can see a wide range of players in a single session.

“Last year’s final between Judd Trump and Ronnie O’Sullivan was one of the best we have seen on the circuit in recent years,” he said.

“Trump went on to become world champion and World No.1 and he’ll be determined to live up to that status when he competes in Belfast.

“Mark Selby has no shortage of motivation as he chases the £1m bonus, while home favourite Mark Allen will expect the support of the local crowd as he aims to reach the final weekend for the first time.

“It will be a fascinating week as these storylines unfold,” he added.

◊ THE tournament runs from November 11 to 17 at the Waterfront Hall, Belfast and tickets are still available to see the best players in the world in action, starting at just £10. Tickets are available at waterfront.co.uk

On cue: Mark Allen, currently going for glory in the World Open in China, is among favourites for Northern Ireland Open title at the Waterfront Hall